Spike-puller.



PATENTED OCT. 22,. 1907.

J. A. WEBB. SPIKE FULLER.

APPLIQATIOK FILED APB.2,1907.

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UNITED STATES JAMES A. WEBB, OF IOLA, TEXAS.

SPIKE-FULLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 22, 1907.

Application filed April 2,1907. Serial No. 365,958.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES A. WEBB, a citizen of the United States, residing at Iola, in the county of Grimes and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spike-Pullers, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to an improved implement which is especially designed for use in withdrawing spikes, drift bolts, and similar fastening members, the object being to provide a tool of this charactcr embodying means whereby the force exerted upon the operating lever not only tends to withdraw the has toning member but also causes the gripping jaws to firmly engage the, same.

To this end the implement comprises a pair of gripping lingers which ,are pivotally connected at an intermediate point to the end of the operating lever, the forward ends of the gripping fingers being formed with jaws for engaging the spike or fastening member, while the rear ends are designed to be forced apart by a projection carried by the operating lever, and engage with the latter member to produce the required rocking movement for withdrawing the spike.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction and the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l. is a pcrspcclive view showing the application of the improved spike puller. Fig. 2 is a side ele vation portions being removed. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view with a portion'of one of the gripping fingers 7 broken away. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on the line a:-n: of Fig. 2. line y-y of Fig. 2.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The operating lever indicated at 1 may be of any suitable formation such as that shown in the drawings and is provided at one end with the enlarged portion 2 carrying the laterally extending and inclined arms 3. These arms 3 are connected to opposite sides of the enlarged portion 2 of the lever by means of a pin or bolt 4, and the upper ends of the arms are formed with the laterally extended flanges 5 which engage the top of the lever and lock the arms against any swinging move ment.

Pivotally mounted l1 pon a pin or bolt 6 connecting the projecting portions of the arms 3 are the gripping lingers 7, the forward ends of which project beyond the extremity of the le ver 1 and carry the downwardly extending spurs 8 which constitute the jaws of the spike puller and are provided upon their inner faces with suitable serrations for biting into and positively gripping the fastening member being withdrawn. The

Fig. 5 is a similar view on the gether.

rear end portions of the gripping fingers 7 are designed to engage the lower surface of the lever 1 and are provided with inclined walls 9 which cooperate with a wedge member 10 projecting from the lever to force the jaws into a close engagement with the member being withdrawn. It will be observed that the gripping lingers 7 have the end portions thereof curved upwardly and that the lower sides thereof are rounded to form a suitable curved surface upon which the tool rocks when withdrawing a spike. It will also be observed that the end of the lever 1 coming into contact with the gripping fingers 7 is rounded to form a suitable bearing surface.

In the operation of the device the two spurs 8 are spread apart and driven into the wood upon opposite sides of the spike or bolt to be pulled. The bolt 6 is then tightened while the lever 1 is in an elevated j osition until the two gripping fingers 7 are drawn to- When force is then applied to the lever 1 for withdrawing the spike the wedge 10 is first forced between the rear end portions of the gripping fingers 7 and the same spread apart in such a manner as to cause the jaws to firmly engage the spike. Upon further movement of the lever 1 the tool is caused to rock upon the lower curved faces of the gripping fingers 7 and the spike withdrawn in the usual manner. In this connection it may be noted that the openings formed in the gripping fingers 7 for the reception of the bolt 6 are enlarged toward the opposite sides of the gripping fingers to enable the same to have the lateral swinging movement required for the proper operation of the wedge 10. It may also .be found desirable under certain conditions to place a washer 11 upon the bolt 6 in order to preserve the threaded portion of the bolt inclosed by the washer in an intact condition.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of an operatinglover, a pair of gripping fingers, lateral arms loosely connected at their upper portions to the said lever, while their lower ends are pivotally connected to the gripping fingers at points between the ends of the latter, the forward ends of the gripping fingers being formed with jaws, while the rear ends are designed to engage the lever, and a wedge carried by the lever and designed to be forced between the rear ends of the gripping lingers to move the jaws together.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of an operating lever, a pair of gripping fingers, lateral arms having their upper extremities loosely connected to the operating lever and extending laterally over the top of the said lever, the lower ends of the arms having the gripping fingers pivotally connected thereto at points between their ends, and means carried by the operating lever for forcing the gripping fingers into an operative position.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of an operating lever, gripping fingers carried by the operating lever and pivotally mounted at an intermediate point, downwardly extending spurs at the forward end of the gripping fingers, said spurs constituting jaws and being designed to be driven into the material in which the spike is embedded, and a wedge carried by the lever and cooperating with the gripping fingers to force the jaws together.

4. In a device of the character described, the combina tion of an operating lever, spaced arms carried by the operating lever, a bolt connecting the projected portions of the spaced arms, gripping fingers pivotally mounted 10 upon the bolt and formed with jaws, and a wedge carried by the lever and cooperating with the gripping fingers to force the jaws toward each other, the before mentioned bolt being designed to be tightened before the wedge is thrown int operative position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence 15 of two witnesses.

JAMES A. WEBB. [1... s.] Witnesses A. A. SANDERS,

J. J. COLSON. 

